Theatre by the Sea’s JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT

July 30, 2018 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

Welcome back to many centuries ago for Theatre by the Sea’s third show of their historic 85th Season. This show is set in the 1960’s and is “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” which is the biblical story of Jacob and his 12 sons. It is a spectacular production starring Marie Eife as the Narrator and Luke Steinhauer as Joseph. It was written in 1968 by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice as a 15 minute cantata and now is a two hour high energy show that has a 22 member cast under the brilliant direction of Richard Sabellico who is also the choreographer plus marvelous musical direction by Ryan Edward Wise. Their combined expertise make this a must see show this summer.

Company Theatre Celebrates 40 Years with Epic Staging of “RAGTIME”

July 29, 2018December 28, 2018 michaelhoban1 Comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

Company Theatre celebrates the start of their 40th Anniversary season with the 1998 hit musical “Ragtime” which is based on E. L. Doctorow’s 1975 novel. The epic sweep of this musical is captured in its opening prologue, a nine minute kaleidoscope of fictional characters mingling with historical ones. At the dawn of the twentieth century, everything is changing and anything is possible. Set in the volatile melting part of turn of the century, New York, three distinctly American tales are woven together, that of a stifled upper class wife, a determined Jewish immigrant and a daring young Harlem musician. They are all united by their courage, compassion and belief in the promise of the future. Together they confront history’s timeless contradictions of wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, hope and despair, and what it means to live in America. This epic musical is excellently directed by Zoe Bradford and Jordie Saucerman. They capture the flavor and the essence of early 1900 New York. This is definitely one show not to be missed. The talented cast is rewarded with a resounding standing ovation.This is the first show I reviewed for them back in 2003, making this my 15th year of reviewing shows at Company Theatre. Back then the show was viewed as “Wow, what progress we’ve made in this new century”, but 15 years later, it is, “Yikes this is the stuff that is still happening in America now!”

Gloucester’s TRUE WEST a True Classic

July 29, 2018August 29, 2018 michaelhobanLeave a comment

By Sheila Barth

BOX INFO: Sam Shepard’s two-hour, two-act Modern American classic play, starring Nael Nacer and Alexander Platt, through Sept, 8, Wednesday-Saturday,7:30 p.m., matinees Saturday, Sunday, 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 2, free post-show discussion with the artists. Gloucester Stage Company, 267 E. Main St., Gloucester. $35-$45, senior, veteran, under 18 discount tickets offered. gloucesterstage.com 978-281-4433.

Whatever you do, try to see Gloucester Stage Company’s explosive, dynamic, two-hour, two-act production of prolific author Sam Shepard’s Modern American classic play, “True West”. Starring Nael Nacer in the role of Lee, desultory drifter and petty thief, and Alexander Platt portraying Austin, Lee’s younger successful and talented author brother, (with direction by Joe Short), their riveting performances will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Love’s Labor at Gloucester Stage Company

July 28, 2018December 27, 2018 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Review by James Wilkinson

Cyrano – Presented by Gloucester Stage Company. Written by Jason O’Connell and Brenda Withers. Directed by Robert Walsh. Scenic Design: Jenna McFarland Lord. Lighting Design: Russ Swift. Costume Design: Elisabetta Polito. Properties Design: Emme Shaw. Sound Design: David Wilson. Fight Direction: Robert Walsh. Presented by Gloucester Stage Company through August 11, 2018.

There’s a good chance that you know more of the story of Cyrano de Bergerac than you think you do. While the title of the original French play may be unfamiliar to some, the basic premise of the story has been riffed and parodied through various forms of media all the way down to multi-cam sitcoms. You’ll even find its fingerprints all over the tropes and clichés of many of today’s romantic comedies. I’ve have never had the opportunity or inclination to read the original play and was surprised to find how much of the plot that I already knew. The fact that we keep coming back to Edmond Rostand’s tale of the nobleman with the elongated nostrils and his unrequited love implies that there’s something mythic expressed within it, some essential truth we need to tap into. Gloucester Stage Company is currently presenting a new attempt to bring the story of Cyrano de Bergerac to modern audiences. Under the shortened title, Cyrano, the adaptation by Jason O’Connell and Brenda Withers unleashes with a bang in this high energy production.

SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE – Burbage Theatre Company, Pawtucket, RI

July 26, 2018August 26, 2018 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

Burbage Theatre Company’s first show of their season is the adaptation of the 1998 Academy Award winning romantic comedy “Shakespeare in Love.” It comes to the stage, complete with sword fights, secret trysts, and backstage drama. Young playwright Will Shakespeare is short on inspiration until he encounters the beguiling Viola, and their star crossed love inspires a masterpiece. Will has writer’s block with his current play he’s working on “Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate’s Daughter” which is a half ass mess. “Shall I compare to thee to a something, something, is the problem Will is facing. His patrons want comedy but Will wants more but can’t figure what that could be. Then he meets Viola, a smart beauty who loves his work and lights his creative flame. But Viola has a secret, and “Romeo” is turning out be anything but a laugh fest. Filled with action packed adventure, fiery romance, and wit, get ready to fall head over heels in love with this lush, lavish and lusty production that celebrates the power of live theatre. Jeff Church directs this Lee Hall adaptation of the Academy Award winning screenplay and comes up a winner with his huge 19 member cast.

WEST SIDE STORY – New Bedford Festival Theatre

July 22, 2018July 23, 2018 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

New Bedford Festival Theatre’s summer musical at the Zeiterion Theatre is “West Side Story”, the classic 1957 musical hit. It is based on Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” and the story is as fresh and meaningful to contemporary audiences as it was for audiences in 1591 for the original play as it was in 1957 for the musical version. Hatred and violence don’t solve problems, they create new ones. Love and understanding are the solutions to these problems, not only in these shows but in real life, too. The well known story of star crossed lovers Tony and Maria takes place in New York City. The outside forces of enemies, friends, gang members and adults keep them from fulfilling their dream of everlasting happiness due to hatred and bigotry. The twenty member cast under the insightful direction of Michael Susko, delivers the goods in a powerful and poignant presentation which propels the audience to their feet at the curtain call.

Hub Theatre Goes Red, White and Blue with “The Taming”

July 20, 2018July 20, 2018 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Review by James Wilkinson

‘The Taming’ – Written by Lauren Gunderson. Directed by Juliet Bowler. Presented by Hub Theatre Company. Assistant Director/Dramaturg: Jess Viator. Set Designer: Ben Lieberson. Scenic Artist: Megan Kinneen. Lighting Designer: Mike Wonson. Costume Designer: Erica Desautels. Sound Designer: Kyle Lampe. Props Designer: Cesara Walters. Pageant Consultant: Jamie-Shannon Ferguson. At the Club Cafe, 209 Columbus Ave., Boston through July 28

Politics.

…Yep. Simply stating the word will probably cause about half of the readers of this review to put their back up. In our contemporary twenty-four hour news cycle culture it’s become a dirty, even ugly word, conjuring up a host of unpleasant connotations including family arguments, fake news and an avalanche of think pieces detailing what new thing you should be outraged about this week and why. It’s exhausting and frustrating experience trying to be an informed American citizen these days, especially as both ends of the political spectrum circle their wagons and create their own echo chambers. Isn’t art, then, supposed to be the one place we can go to escape all of that noise? The one refuge we have from the suffocating media landscape?

Americana Theatre Company Dreams Impossible Dream with “Man of La Mancha”

July 20, 2018July 20, 2018 michaelhoban1 Comment

By Evan McKenna

Man of La Mancha – Written by Dale Wasserman, Lyrics by Joe Darion; Music by Mitch Leigh. Directed by Dr. Michael Kirkland; Choreographed by Derek G. Martin; Set Design by David Friday; Costumes by Brian Kenerson; Lighting by Heather M. Crocker. Presented by The Americana Theatre Company at The Spire Center for the Performing Arts, 25 Court St, Plymouth MA through July 29

“There goes the maddest wise man, or the wisest mad man…”

Prior to “Man of La Mancha” at Spire Center for the Performing Arts this past Friday, president of Americana Theatre Company, Peter G. Martin, emphasized to the audience that their theatre aims to provide “stories that entertain and stories that matter,” citing “Man of La Mancha” as a prime example. Using the original Don Quixote narrative to portray a deeper point about realism and idealism explored by author Miguel de Cervantes, “Man of La Mancha” portrays much more than a general story about madness and reality than its comical flare may make it seem. Among the many themes of this narrative lays the sheer, “quixotic,” boldness of a madman, imagining himself a gallant knight and romantic defender, clinging to who he believes he is and what he stands for. While he may be foolish on the surface, the story questions the value that dreaming and idealizing still have—which may be just the thing that our modern society needs.

Avenue Stage’s “Addict Shunned” Provides Compelling, Intimate Look At Addiction

July 17, 2018December 27, 2018 michaelhobanLeave a comment

by Mike Hoban

Addict Shunned – By Judith Austin; Directed by Michael O’Halloran; Cast: Geoffrey Pingree, Saloni Kumar, Eunice Simmons, Bridget Haberecht, Joel Derby, Megan Ward, Miss Mary Mac. Presented by Avenue Stage at the Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, 949 Commonwealth Ave., Boston through July 28

One of the few positives that has come out of the opioid crisis is that with the high incidence of fatal overdoses cutting across all segments of society, addiction is no longer being solely associated with those from the lower rungs of the socioeconomic ladder. And while it is a lot easier to stay in denial about the effects of alcoholism and prescription pill addiction as long the people who are afflicted can appear to be “normal” on the surface – not sleeping on the Boston Common with a pint of vodka in a brown paper bag in hand or robbing a liquor store to support their habit – the effects of opiate addiction are significantly more jarring. It’s a little harder to deny that someone has a problem when the family sees their bank account cleaned out or an otherwise healthy-appearing person dies suddenly.

‘Peter Pan’ Delights at North Shore Music Theatre

July 12, 2018July 12, 2018 michaelhoban1 Comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

Welcome to Neverland at and their summer musical of “Peter Pan”, the boy who won’t grow up. As soon as you enter the theater you are transported to Neverland with the gorgeous and colorful sets of Kyle Dixon. The original play was by J.M. Barrie written in 1904 which was based on his novel “Peter and Wendy.” However this musical version has music mostly by Morris Charlap, with additional music by Jule Styne with lyrics by Carolyn Leigh and additional lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. It was originally adapted and directed by Jerome Robbins. The original Broadway musical opened in 1954 and starred Mary Martin and Cyril Ritchard as Peter Pan and Captain Hook. These roles won them both Tony Awards.